Hello to all of my friends. I appreciate all of the messages and texts asking how I am coping through this. Right now I’m well. My worry is how are YOU coping with this? For my readers around the globe that are frightened, anxious, or just down right panicking over the current situation, you are not alone. It seems as though time has stopped and all of us are huddling closer to our families and friends, perhaps looking inward and downward with just a little despair. The world has flipped overnight based on what we are seeing on television, reading online, and hearing from the people we converse with in our daily lives. I want to tell all of you that what helps me most is to remember to look up!
I am reminded of a line from the Tony Kushner play, “Angels in America.” In the darkest moment, an angel descends from heaven to the protagonist in the play, Prior Walter, and tells him to “Look up! Look up!” It is a command that has always helped level my head when I’m anxious. Those words make me realize life is much bigger than what we see in front, behind and around us. It helps me to look up and breathe into something bigger.
I am experiencing similar anxiety and tension watching and seeing life change before my very eyes. Last week I left Italia for Geneva, Switzerland. Within 72 hours, there was an entire quarantine placed over my home. Shortly after that, all businesses were shuttered and citizens were only permitted to leave their homes for basic essentials. It’s unsettling to say the least.
I chose to leave Switzerland and come to France to be with a friend who I had planned on traveling to in the upcoming days. I didn’t expect the changes to be so severe and so quick. Part of me is sad that I’m not in Italia, while part of me feels grateful that people are strong here and already taking care of each other. I do believe it will be difficult everywhere eventually, and similar measures will be required in any country that wants to seriously slow/stop the progression of the virus. We all have to be strong. I don’t have any other opinions on the measures, the virus, the politics or anything other than the human experience at this point.
When I arrived in Switzerland, I expected to clear my head, breathe in fresh air and experience something new and different. However, I couldn’t help but remember to look up. Look above my current situation, and focus on what’s bigger, the beauty of the mountains, the water, the sky, the taste and smell of the air. They are reminders that there are greater things that will return us to balance. Pain is never wasted. We sometimes have to feel it to appreciate the joy that is all around and ever present to us.
I wonder what my late husband Darin would tell me right now if he could communicate with me from where he is observing all of this. I think he would tell me to remember to look up! So my dear friends, please love each other and be kind. There is nobody to blame here, just people that need to feel safe. If you want to make a difference, help someone who may need it the next several weeks. Many will likely be quarantined, and it will be impossible for some who are older or health compromised to leave their homes safely. Offer help to them, be safe, and remember to look up!
Sending love to all of you,
Luke